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Monday, 11 June 2018

I promised myself I would post more frequently, but you know what? Life took over and gave me a sharp smack about the head and said, "Not yet you won't!"

If you're a facebook friend of mine, you'll notice I've posted up lots of affirmations and positive quotes about mental health,and there's a very good reason......my one and only child is battling with the demon inside, having tried to take his life twice in the past month and there was nothing I could do but look from the outside in and be his advocate with an underfunded mental health system that is groaning from the pressure at its seams.

I won't fill you with the details but know my boy is doing ok now, he's moved back home and we take it day by day. He has two great mental health nurses he can contact at any time and a psychologist he's seeing for the first time today to work with him on rewiring his thoughts, to turn them from negatives to positives. The worst thing about it is the stigma. Because it's 'all in your head' and it's not a visual illness (like vomiting and diarrhoea or a broken leg), it's hard to distinguish whether it's 'just you' or if there really is something wrong. Being told to 'get over it' or 'toughen up' and 'just think happy thoughts' just doesn't do the trick to helping someone through this dreaded illness, and it IS an illness. It's taken years of listening, perseverance, trying to understand and advocating for my boy's health when I'm not sure I understand myself but finally we're getting there.

So with all that happening, I've remembered (on time too!) that it's time for FNSI sign ups! YAAAAY....my sanity time. Hope you'll join with me on Friday night for some self indulgence, a little wine, some chocolate or something to tickle your fancy, a comfy pair of jammies and some virtual togetherness to do what we love best...….stitch!

Sign ups are open and everyone is welcome. Don't forget to share with others on your blog and social media as taking time out to stitch with our friends is so good for our own mental health and who knows, you might win our monthly prize.